PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Izabela Cozza AU - Elisa Lombardi AU - Gustavo Prado AU - Mario Terra AU - Ubiratan Santos TI - 6-minute walking test (6MWT) in patients with silicosis DP - 2013 Sep 01 TA - European Respiratory Journal PG - P1006 VI - 42 IP - Suppl 57 4099 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/P1006.short 4100 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/P1006.full SO - Eur Respir J2013 Sep 01; 42 AB - Objective: To evaluate the performance of patients with chronic silicosis in six-minute walking test (6MWT) and correlate its results with lung function test and radiologic exams. Methods: Study that included all patients diagnosed with silicosis in the Occupational Respiratory Diseases Ambulatory, Heart Institute (Incor-HCFMUSP), between January and December 2011, who had no limitation on the execution of the 6MWT. The subjects performed 6MWT, chest radiography and / or high-resolution computed tomography, and pulmonary function test. We included 67 patients, 98.5% were male. The majority (70%) worked in the fields of foundry, marble quarrying and quarry. Mean age was 55.5 ± 12.7 years, BMI 24.7 ± 3.8 kg/m2. Smoking prevalence was 2.9% (n = 2), ex-smokers 64.1% (n = 44) and non-smokers 32.8% (n = 21). Largely, 78%, showed functional abnormalities on spirometry with a greater frequency of obstructive lung disease (n = 32, 49.23%). At the end of 6MWT we observed a significant increase in Borg rating perceived exertion scale (Borg scale) and decrease in SpO2 ≥ 5% (n = 18, 28%) (p<0,01). We found also a significant correlation between 6MWT variables and FEV1, FEF25-75% and FEV1/FVC. The linear regression models confirmed the negative effect of the reduction in FEV1 and FVC in SpO2 and Borg scale. The presence of large opacities in radiological exams was not significantly associated with poorer performance on the 6MWT or with worse lung function. Conclusion: In a cross-sectional analysis 6MWT showed greater utility in assessing patients with silicosis, with better correlation with pulmonary function than image changes, moreover, it is useful and inexpensive.